I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

How true   You can spend less money by looking for bargains and getting a good deal on something.  We do send money to some ... budget is tight for them, that's what they need and I just can't see wasting $$$ on something they may not even want when I know they can use the cash.  Being able to pay the electric bill can be a great gift if that is what they decide to do with it.  We always add a card or two for dinner out and a couple of small surprises too though.

I've had fun with the grandkids in FL this year.  Rather than a big gift we sent 4 packages of smaller stuff during the month to be opened upon receipt.  They have enjoyed it according to step-daughter.  And I have gotten hooked on Ty Beanie Boos.

Now for my daughter who lives here close it's easy.  I can find a zillion things for her.

Athena ... I see some phone calls in your future to sort out who goes with what  

What a wonderful gift you received this year, Jackie!  And great that your SIL found work so quickly.

Hey folks -- It's December 21 in almost half the world now.  Do you suppose that half is still there?????!!!!!

Can't believe that 33 schools in Michigan were closed today because of widespread fears about the end of the world.   Hmmmmmm

Jackie -- So good to hear about your bestest Christmas present.

Guess I was asleep at the wheel......I had no idea the world was ending.  Must have been preoccupied with work and buying groceries, filling my gas tank for $2.98 a gallon and other odds and ends.  Methinks I'd better start paying attention here.  I'd hate to be the last one to know. 

Jackie

Hmm.  Should I stay up until midnight since tomorrow the world ends? Yawn.  Nope.

We're going to a Christmas party tomorrow night. I asked my friend if she thought the world was going to end at the beginning of the day or at the end. She said, "With all the cooking and cleaning I'm doing for this party, it better be the end of the day!"

Mary

I only wish it were the end of the line for Boehn Head.

Glenna ... you should be very proud of what you have done for those kids.  It may not always turn out perfectly but they would have had no chance at all without you.  You are my newest hero.

Read this today and got a chuckle out of it ... some snippets.  I like the Maya.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/maya-apocalypse-2012-maya_n_2330961.html?icid=maing-grid7|maing10|dl17|sec1_lnk2&pLid=248237

"I've come here to ask some actual Maya people about the so-called apocalypse said to be prophesied by Coba's Stela 1, a chunk of elaborately carved limestone much scrutinized by day-trippers down from Cancun." 

"December 21, it should be noted, is the end of every Maya calendar year"

"The only person I find willing to engage with the prophecy is Jeremias Kulaak Paal, who works as a waiter in Bahia Principe. Jeremias slips a memory card into his Nokia phone and shows me a video explicating the prophecy and its connection to nearby Coba. He says he was curious after seeing reference to the apocalypse on the Internet and went to see the stone. After that he had some questions for his 109-year-old grandfather.

"My grandfather told me that there will be a change after the new year," says Jeremias, who has just grown out of his teens. "He says that there will be more peace and prosperity going forward, so I think we should look forward to it."

This cheerful perspective actually lines up neatly with what archeologists and anthropologists say about the significance of this new year.

"The world isn't going to end, but it might get better," concludes Jeremias.

He's friendly and plainly enjoys trying out the English words he's learned on the job. I ask him if he'll go into Coba and celebrate with the tourists. He shakes his head.

"We're going to get beers and have a party in town," he says. "Nothing big."

The only thing the prediction is right on is the death of Boehner, as our bartender points out, the death of the Reagan Revolution, and hopefully the death of the Tea Party. What shocking lack of statesmanship.

Yes, proof of life, please? Suzie, Jezza and Alyson....

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!  Except Suzie and Allyson -- Happy Summer Solstice to you both!

That thought had occurred to me too ;-)

Lindasa, regarding school closings in Michigan.  My daughter's a teacher and still has school today but she was getting tons of texts and emails that people were worried that wackos might do something today.  The emails and texts were asking the teachers to please try to calm any parents they might encounter.  My grandkids go to school in a different district and still had school today.  Everything seemed fine when I dropped them off.  Also it's snowing so some of the rural districts might be closed or delayed due to that, although last I checked we're only supposed to get a couple of inches in this area.

Did anyone happen to hear Rep. Tim Huelskamp on Morning Joe this morning? I think it was the end of the world for him too.

I'm beginning to think this End-of-the-World thing only applies to certain individuals, not the whole world.  Uh, watching the NRA press conference too.